Was messing around today, just being curious. I made a circuit where an 08M2 was powered by 3.5V, through a 10ohm resistor and diode, with a capacitor on the PICAXE side of the diode, so when power is removed, the capacitor charge keeps the PICAXE going for a couple of seconds. The PICAXE can register the power removed as an input.

I was playing around with different capacitors, and I noticed something odd. When using two 6.3V 330uF tantalum caps, for a total of 660uF, the circuit would keep running for roughly 2 seconds.

When I switched to four 6.3V 220uF ceramic capacitors, for a total of 880uF, the same PICAXE circuit would run for roughly 1 second. When I added two more, for a total of 1320uF, it finally ran for roughly 2 seconds.

I am purely curious, why does it seem to take twice as much ceramic capacitance being used as an energy store to run a PICAXE, than tantalum? I tried looking into this, but all the information I can find comparing these caps is mostly related to frequency/leakage/temperature. The only thing I found is that ceramics generally have much lower ESR than tantalum, but it increases at lower frequencies. Could it be that at the ceramic ESR becomes very large at no/low frequency (energy store mode)?

I'm getting into wireless data transmission using Dorji 433MHz Tx/Rx. Stan Swan wrote a smashing article (dorjiask.pdf) regarding this around 2012/2013, I have copies of this article.

In the Audio Tone transmitter section (pg 6 of the article) Stan is using a 08M to modulate the Dorji tx. He describes the code for the 08M "dorjiask_beacon.bas" as downloadable from his web site www.picaxe.orcon.net.nz. I believe his web site is no longer active.

Hi everyone
I'm a expert/horrible player at the simple card game of Phase 10
and since I seem to play it more then I should I get sick of the normal 1-10 levels
so decided to place 1 thru 10 numbers (pieces of paper) in a hat and pick which level is next but
me being lazy thought hey a picaxe can do this somehow ?? so in short I was thinking
using a 2X16 LCD which is easy but were I became confused is to do a random number
1 thru 10 but make sure it doesn't use the same number
so if it was to pick 7 then it wouldn't pick 7 again till all the numbers are picked
its probably real easy to do ...but my brain just keeps getting random solutions :) that of course wont work
anyway hope some of you good poeples have a thought
I would use the 20m2 ....cause its cool
your friend who pretends to work
mark

Hi all,
After looking through this forum for an answer. Most of what I have found to this question is dead links. Now that Ciseco aren't around anymore.

I still use many ERF modules. But have found the power consumption awful. Even while using the CTS pin. Which I initially thought would put the ERF into low power mode. But it doesn't in stock state.

I have picked up that it needs low power mode to be enabled in the ERF configuration setup. But also noticed that the URF/ERF Picaxe configuration wizard, does not allow low power mode for the URF. It is greyed out, while the module is connected. Why is that?
And why did Rev.Ed not include functions like - low power mode, RF power level and heartbeat LED change, into the ERF wizard setup?

So I entered the LOW POWER settings in the ERF config file and then uploaded it to a test ERF module. And now it would appear to be permanently asleep.

I have a complicated circuit. Basics... 40x2 running a Max7219. This Multiplexes 60 leds inside illuminated buttons.
I have tried to keep the MAX7219 near the IC, but it wasn't possible to have it on the same PCB. So its about 10" away, with its data lines run in a screened cable.

As the leds are spread over a control panel. obviously the outputs of the Max7219 are wired over a larger area. However I don't think that particularly causes an issue (well I hope not).

I always seem to run into trouble with supply noise. The Max7219 is randomly either illuminating all the leds, or sometimes they drop out. Other times they work fine.
The entire panel worked fine for weeks on the bench (off a dedicated bench supply), but now its playing up once installed.

There was a HC-05 bluetooth module in circuit, and they are notoriously noisy so I have removed that for now.
I am running the project off a new 70w computer PSU. I thought that would give me a nice high quality supply. Apparently not. It is showing a nice 5.12v consistently.

Got the usual 0.1uf and 100uf across the chips. What else can I do? I am pretty sure its supply noise or noise on the data lines.

Is there any way of protecting the data lines = CLK, DIN and LOAD? Can any of these be pulled high/low? Would that help?

I also considered ferrite beads, but I believe you need to work out the correct value, and I don't have a scope.

Any suggestions would be immensely appreciated.

]]>Active PICAXE ForumSteve2381http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30574-Always-having-issues-with-noiseCan someone hep me with my coding.http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30573-Can-someone-hep-me-with-my-coding&goto=newpost
Mon, 19 Feb 2018 18:51:41 GMTI am currently making a cricket scoring device to use at my club, however I have never coded before and keep on getting syntax errors. It would be...

I am currently making a cricket scoring device to use at my club, however I have never coded before and keep on getting syntax errors. It would be very helpful if someone could either help me write it or point out why I have syntax errors.

]]>Active PICAXE ForumAlex_Bridlehttp://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30573-Can-someone-hep-me-with-my-codingLooking for help with OpenLog uSD data logger?http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30572-Looking-for-help-with-OpenLog-uSD-data-logger&goto=newpost
Mon, 19 Feb 2018 18:36:45 GMTHi everyone,
This is my first time posting anything as I am a newbie when it comes to picaxe, but I have read through all of the forum posts on...

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting anything as I am a newbie when it comes to picaxe, but I have read through all of the forum posts on this topic for help with this and have tried various iterations of code that has been suggested there but still cannot get this to work, and apparently it's an easy way to log to a uSD according to many? Well not to me.

I am almost finished my project but am relying on this to complete it to log my required data, so would really appreciate the help.

I am using a 40x2 chip with the OpenLog uSD module. I have connected the OpenLog to the pic from RXI to pin C.6 (hserout), TXI to pin C.7(hserin) and connected VCC to 5VDC and the GND and BLK pins to 0V.

I placed the CONFIG.TXT file on the card before use (9600,26,3,0,1,1,0).

And I have written some code to try and get it working, based on the parameters i need before merging it with my main code:

I have also tried swapping C.6 and C.7 in my code, and also switching the wires but with no luck either. My .CSV file is not being generated on the card at all.

I can get an output to the picaxe terminal, and all of my data is appearing there and can export that .CSV to excell to display the values. But I just cannot get the uSD card module to work.

There are 2 LED's on the module (green and blue) but they do not seem to light up at all, and I have checked with a multimeter that the module is receiving 5V which it is. Perhaps this is just a faulty unit?

If anyone has any suggestions on where I might have went wrong, or can point me in the right direction that would be great. As I mentioned, I am very new to picaxe but have been picking it up very fast and making good progress, until I hit this wall!

Came across this software program currently in beta, apparently released Nov '17, that claims to run Windows programs on Chromebooks with Intel processor and 2GB ram. Has anyone tried it successfully with PE6 or even PE5?

]]>Active PICAXE Forumwapo54001http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30571-PE6-on-Chrome-with-Codeweaver-CrossoverPicaxe softwarehttp://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30570-Picaxe-software&goto=newpost
Sun, 18 Feb 2018 17:46:06 GMTCan the picaxe programming software be used with my Chromebook? After reading I am not sure read about blocky but would rather program using text.

Can the picaxe programming software be used with my Chromebook? After reading I am not sure read about blocky but would rather program using text.

I'm away from my pc with all the picaxe stuff on it, trying to write the (hopefully) last piece of code while I have some time, but not able to compile/run/test it for a week or so, so this is probably going to be rubbish code anyway...

This should hopefully compute the value of b1, which gets used as the eeprom address to start from to look up 4 bytes of data, and use them with a pwm output.

There must be a less clumsy way of reading 4 bytes of eeprom into variables? It looks awful!
I'm sure that 'pwmdiv b11' wouldnt work either.

Can anyone suggest the proper way to do this? I have a block of time off, but no access to my computer, and the flu. Not the best combination...

]]>Active PICAXE Forummoorea21http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30568-reading-sequential-eeprom-addresses-syntax-problem-using-the-dataAnyone else teaching BTEC Unit 6 - Microcontroller systems for engineers?http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30567-Anyone-else-teaching-BTEC-Unit-6-Microcontroller-systems-for-engineers&goto=newpost
Sat, 17 Feb 2018 21:25:00 GMTHi. I am currently teaching the mandatory Unit 6 which has Picaxe as an approved platform and would be interested to converse with others who are...

Hi. I am currently teaching the mandatory Unit 6 which has Picaxe as an approved platform and would be interested to converse with others who are also teaching this unit.

Although I have not used Picaxe for some years (2009 I think), I soon got back into it which proves how intuitive the platform generally is. I have almost a dozen students, only one of which would be considered a hobbyist used to some programming.

We have recently gone through the previous assessment for practice which has been an interesting exercise. I have personally coded it in both BASIC and Flowcharts, not sure which method my students will use yet!

I haven't posted in a long time and usually don't unless I'm having a PICAXE problem... and so I'm here today. :-(
(searched the forums last night and this morning, couldn't find anything helpful)

Making yet another very simple Morse code project with some 14M2's that were laying around rather than the usual 08M2. It's pretty simple, 9V battery, 7805CT regulator with no bypass caps, two 10k pots for Morse speed and Morse tone, 2N7000 output on B.1 and SOUND out on speaker C.1. Random or practice Words, Letters or Punctuation etc. etc. all controlled by the numerous positions of four DIP switches.

I etched out the board yesterday and wrote a few lines to test code.
Digital out on pin B.1 for the 2N7000, all good.
Both the ADC's for Morse speed and Morse tone on pinC.0 and pinC.4 are reporting back between 0 and 255, all good.
The 4 segment DIP switches (with external 10K pull downs) on B.2, B.3, B.4 and B.5 report back the numbers 4, 8, 16 or 32 when individually closed, all good.

The problem is... I can not get SOUND to work! I've even downloaded a simple test... (below) but no sound out of the speaker. Speaker is a 2" speaker in series through a 10uf tantalum cap to pin C.1. I've even tried the SOUND on B.2, B.3, B.4 and B.5 with the DIP switches 10K pull down resistors removed and still no Sound out on any of the B pins.

*** Tested Sound 2, (100,100) on a spare 14M and it works. .... also Sound 3 (100,100), Sound 4... and Sound 5... on an old 14M and Sound works properly. ***

Manual says 14M2 Pin C.1 can be used for... kb data, hpwm B/ Out/ In (doesn't that include SOUND too?)
My three 14M2 chips all say they have firmware Ver. 6A
speaker proved good
capacitor proved good
Disconnected the programming lead after download, still no sound on C.1
Removed 10K pull down resistors on B pins, still no sound on C.1
Cannot find any issues with my circuit board artwork.
Using Win7 and Programming Editor 6.

NOTE: Another weird anomaly is when the above code is downloaded, the 2N7000 turns on and off on B.1 until I connect the speaker on C.1, then the output on B.1 stops going high. (proved with a resistor and LED on B.1) Only until I lift the neg- speaker wire from ground or lift the pos+ speaker wire from the capacitor, (other side of capacitor goes to pin C.1) will the 2N7000 on B.1 turn back on and off again. (almost like the B.1 output is being dragged down by the speaker circuit on C.1... same phenomena happens on all three 14M2 chips)

]]>Active PICAXE ForumHamRadioAddicthttp://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30566-14M2-quot-SOUND-quot-no-workingMac installation of AXE027 driverhttp://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?30563-Mac-installation-of-AXE027-driver&goto=newpost
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 21:54:26 GMTDesperately need help
I have followed the installation instructions to the letter but have failed to install the driver on my iMac (High Sierra...

Desperately need help

I have followed the installation instructions to the letter but have failed to install the driver on my iMac (High Sierra 10.13.3). All goes well with the installation windows and I eventually get the window Installation successful. I reboot the Mac, plug in the AXE027 cable and nothing...

at this point in the instructions say:
"When the computer has rebooted, plug in the AXE027 cable.
If the device is installed properly, you will now see the cable as a symbolic link file entry in the /dev directory:
/dev/tty.usbserial-xxxxxxxx"

Obviously the device is not installed properly as I can find no evidence of this file in the /dev directory.

I have a design which needs to run at 32mHz and 3V to accomodate a Nokia 5110 LCD, but have found that CALIBADC doesn't return the right value for this calculation, whereas it is correct for 4mHz, 8mHz, and 16mHz.

Here's my test code. I first display the calculated voltage at 4mHz, and then again after SETFREQ M32.

Trying to write:-
If b0 = 1 TO 5 OR b1 = 6 TO 10 OR b2 = 131 TO 136 OR b3 = 212 TO 218 then b4 = "Y": b5 = "2": End If
But the editor gets hung up at the '5'. I'm not sure if I'm also supposed to nest 'OR's in parentheses?
What is the syntax for testing multiple variables for ranges of values? Is there one?
Thanks